Google Voice opens to the public, no invitation required

Google announced its web-based Google Voice communications management platform is now available to all U.S. consumers. The digital services giant previously limited Google Voice services to users who requested and received an invitation. Google Voice features include one number to ring all of a user's phones, email-like voicemail, free calls and text messages within the U.S. and Canada, and discounted international calls--writing on the Official Google Mobile Blog, product managers Craig Walker and Vincent Paquet note that over a million consumers now actively use Google Voice, also crediting user suggestions for new features like SMS to email.

In August 2009, Apple found itself the target of a Federal Communications Commission inquiry after rejecting a Google Voice application optimized for the iPhone platform, concurrently removing a pair of third-party Google Voice apps from the App Store. Later in the month, Apple told the FCC it had not officially rejected Google Voice and "continues to study it." According to Apple, Google Voice and the related third-party apps were rejected or not included in the App Store because they interfere with the iPhone's "distinctive user experience"--Apple contended that Google Voice "appears to [replace] the iPhone's core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail."

Google released a web app version of Google Voice for iPhone in January 2010, effectively circumventing Apple's review process. Unlike so-called native iPhone applications available for direct download from the App Store, Google Voice can only be accessed through the smartphone's browser.

For more on the expanded Google Voice:
- see this video
- read this Official Google Mobile Blog entry

Related articles:
Google Voice for iPhone finally released--as a web app
Apple 'still pondering' Google Voice app approval
Apple faces FCC inquiry after yanking Google Voice apps